Switch actuating mechanism



Aug. 5, 1947. E. A. ERlcsvoN 2,425,278

I swITcH ACTUATING MEGHANISM l Filed neg. 2i, 1945 II l will' |v 507mle a@ z? 14 y F7 111,{11/ 111111111 111* Z5 3 23 9 y ErwN'MToAw RHEY Patented Aug. 5, 1947 2,425,278 SWITCH ACTUATING MEoHANlsM Eric Axel Ericson, Plainville, Conn., assgnor to The Trumbull Electric Manufacturing Company, Plainville, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application December 27, 1945, Serial No. 637,349

(Cl. 'i4-100) 8 Claims.

My invention relates particularly to mechanism for actuating electric switches.

The main object is to .provide simple but effective mechanism which can be applied to the outside of switch boxes for actuating the mechanism inside.

A special object is to provide snap action or quick make and quick break mechanism capable of being embodied in various forms of switches.

Fig. l is a face view of one form of device embodying my invention,A the moving parts being shown in full lines in one extreme position and in dot-dash lines in the other extremeposition, such positions for instance aslrepresentthe onand off positions of anelectric switch;

Fig. 2 is a sectional View on the plane ofrthe line 2--2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary section on the plane of the line 3-3 of Fig. 4.

Fig. Liis'a face View ofthe stationary parts of the device, parts being broken away.

Fig. 5 is a face View of the hub of the handle member.

The device is adapted to be secured to the front or side wall of a switch box `depending upon the particular form of switch mechanism (not shown). In this case l indicates a fragment of the switch box wall.

The attachment has a base plate 8 which may be attached to the wall 1 in any suitable manner, for instance by screws, bolts or Welding at 9, 9. Mounted on this base 8 are two U-shaped track members I and II. These are secured together and to the -base plate 8 by rivets I2, I3 and I3 and properly spaced by collars. The ends of the upper track member extend beyond the lower track member and are secured to the base plate by rivets I4, I4. These parts 8, IU, II, I2, I3 and I4 constitute the guide frame for the handle.

The handle member I5 has a cylindrical hub I 6 rotatably mounted about the base plate 8 and the outer edges of the track members I0 and I I. A fragment of an annulus is interposed between the track member I0 and the base 8 and is secured to the hub IB for instance by screws I8.

The throwing device is mounted within the handle member and its hub and extends into the U-shaped track members. A rod 2U has a pair 0f rollers 2|, 22 mounted on a pin 23 which extends through the rod, through the slot 24 in the base plate and into the switch box where it engages the movable switch member (not shown). The other end of the rod is slotted and is slidably guided by the cross pin 25 in the handle'.

A spring 26 is mounted on the rod ZIJ between the abutment 2l of the rod `and the crosspin 25 in the handle so as'to press the rollers 2I,' 22 against the inner edges of the track members I0 and I I. An auxiliary reinforcing member 28 is secured to the rod 20 by rivets 29 and constitutes with it thethrowing arm. The studs Ill, I4 .constitute fulcrum points for the throwing arm. The side edges 30, 30 of the track member constitute stops for the rollers 2|,` 22, The-bottom edges 3|, 3| extend in a direction generally transverse to the mid position of the handle and constitute supporting tracks for the rollers as they move between the stops. The central part of each edge 3| is substantially straight so as to afford a minimum .resistance to movement of the rollers as they move from Voneside to theA other of Athe track members.

When the handle. is movedV from the full line to the dot-dash line lposition'of Fig; 1 its' hub `Ii turns about the base plate B'andthetrackmembers I Il and II. As the pin 25 swings on an arc about the center of the hub the spring 26 is compressed until the part 28 of the throwing arm strikes the stud I4. Continued movement of the handle turns the arm about one stud I 4 as a pivot until the power of the spring throws the rollers 2|, 22 and the pin 23 from the lower to the upper position of Fig. 1, the rollers traveling along the tracks at the bottom of the U-shaped track members until they strike against the upper edge 30 and the auxiliary bar strikes the lower stud I4. When the handle is moved back toward its upper position the reverse action takes place and the spring throws the handle and the pin back to their full line positions where the rollers 2|, 22 press against the lower side edges 30, 3l) of the track member and the member 28 of the throwing arm 20 engages the upper stud |4.

It will thus be seen that the movement is very quick in either position.

I claim:

1. Snap action mechanism comprising a guide frame having a slotted base plate and a plate with a circular outer rim and a transverse inner track, a handle having a hub mounted to oscillate on said frame, a throwing arm having a roller at one end guided lon said track and slidable in the handle, a lcompression spring mounted on said arm for throwing said arm and a pin carried by said arm and projecting through said base plate.

2. Snap action mechanism comprising a guide frame having a U-shaped plate with a circular outer rim and a transverse inner track, a handle having a cylindrical hub mounted to oscillate on said frame, a, throwing arm having a roller at one end guided on said track and slidably engaging an abutment in the handle and a compression spring mounted on said arm between said abutment and said roller.

3. Snap action mechanism comprising a guide frame having a circular outer rim and a transverse inner track, a handle having a cylindrical hub mounted to oscillate on said frame, a throwing arm having a roller at one end guided on,

said track and slidably engaging a cross pin in the handle, a compression spring mounted on said arm and abutments on said frame serving as pivots about which said arm turns when said handle is turned.

4. Snap action mechanism comprising a guide frame consisting of a base plate and two U- shaped track plates held spaced apart by studs, each track plate having a circular outer rim and a transverse inner track, a handle having a hub mounted to ,oscillate on said frame, a throwing arm having rollers at one end guided on said tracks and slidable in the handle and a compression spring mounted on said arm for pressing said rollers against said tracks.

5. Switch actuating mechanism comprising a handle, means for pivoting said handle to permit it to be oscillated, a track extending substantially transverse to the mid position of said handle and having stop shoulders at its opposite ends, a roller mounted to travel along said track, a throwing rod connected at one end to said roller and having at its other end a sliding and swinging connection with the outer end of said handle, a spring on said rod for pressing said roller against said track and abutments adjacent the stop shoulders of said track engaged by said throwing rod for tilting said rod when the handle is swung about its pivotal means.

6. Snap action mechanism comprising a guide frame consisting of a base plate and upper and lower U-shaped track plates held spaced apart by studs, each track plate having a circular outer rim and a transverse inner track, a handle having a hub mounted to oscillate on said frame, a throwing arm having rollers at one end guided on said tracks and slidable in the handle and a compression spring mounted on said arm for pressing said rollers against said tracks and a fragment of an annular member interposed between the base plate and the lower U-shaped track and secured to the hub for holding the parts on the base plate.

7. Snap action mechanism comprising a guide frame having a, circular outer rim and a transverse inner track, a handle having a cylindrical hub mounted to oscillate on said frame, a throwing arm having a roller at one end guided on said track and slidably engaging a cross pin in the handle, abutments on said frame serving as pivots about which said arm turns when the handle is turned and a spring encircling said arm for pressing the roller against the track and for accelerating the pivotal movement of said arm.

8. Snap action mechanism comprising a guide frame having a slotted base plate, another plate with a circular outer rim and a transverse inner track, a handle having a cylindrical hub mounted to oscillate on said frame, a throwing arm having a roller at one end guided on said track and slidably engaging a cross pin in the handle, abutments on said frame serving as pivots about which said arm turns when the handle is turned, a spring encircling said arm for pressing the roller against the track and for accelerating the pivotal movement of said arm and a. pin carried by said arm and projecting through said slotted base plate.

ERIC AXEL ERICSON. 

